Kucinich Says No! To ‘No-Fly’ Zone Over Libya

[oberliner]

WASHINGTON - March 14 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today made the following statement after the Arab League came out in unanimous support of a no-fly zone over Libya.

“A no-fly zone begins with an attack on the air defenses of Libya. It is an act of war that can only be approved by Congressional action, not by any international body. There is a civil war in Libya, which must be resolved by Libya. My thoughts are with the families of the victims who have lost their lives in the pursuit of better economic opportunity and democratic government. The United States must speak out strongly against human rights abuses but must do so without undermining the right of Libya’s people to wholly determine their own governance.

“The very idea of imposing a no-fly zone over Libya, an act of war, is chilling. We cannot make U.S. policy without being mindful of the effect this policy would have on our own people, let alone people half the world away.

“It is time for the Administration to stop looking for someone else to make the decision. The U.S. must make a firm declaration that it will not intervene in Libya by means of enforcing a no-fly zone or any other aggressive military means,” said Kucinich.

http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2011/03/14-5

[Dappleganger]

1. He's right.

[joshcryer]

5. He's assuming that the United States is going to do anything.

It won't be us acting.

[Dappleganger]

53. The US is already doing "something"

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/03/19/france-fires-libyan-military-vehicle/

Go ahead, bury your head in the sand again.

[joshcryer]

2. The United States is not bombing another country, and therefore, is not violating congress.

Get over yourself Kucinich.

[daa]

3. I thought we were broke???????????????????

[in_cog_ni_to]

7. We're never broke when we're out for blood and war.

Money is always plentiful!

[itsrobert]

4. He's Wrong

People are dying and are oppressed.

[MikeW]

24. and they were in Iraq too .. no fly zone 91-03

Let someone else do it ... WERE ALREADY IN 2 GD WARS AND BROKE!!!!

Were cutting education, HCare and other vitals for our own citizens

but hell ... 400-800 million /week for a No Fly zone ... SURE NO PROBLEM!!!!

We had our own revolution in US, we won and didnt get help from anyone else, its time for these countries to stand on their own without US involvement.

[Ramulux]

26. People are killed and oppressed all over the world

So I guess we should go save everyone.

[oberliner]

37. So you are saying we should save no one?

I mean, people are hungry and starving all over the world - so does that mean I shouldn't give one hungry person some food?

[fascisthunter]

41. you are right... you should go to Palestine and feed the Palestinians right now

[oberliner]

50. I contribute what I can to organizations that help combat hunger around the world

I would definitely encourage others to do the same, if they can afford it.

[in_cog_ni_to]

44. Honestly. When do WE, as a nation, stop being the caretakers of the entire

freakin' world and start taking care of OUR hungry and starving? If we have endless amounts of money for wars, we should not have one hungry or starving in this country.

[oberliner]

49. It's the UN, though, here - it's not the US

We are just one member state. This is not an action that the US is leading.

[in_cog_ni_to]

6. Good for him! Ethics. It's rare in Washington. Let the Arab League

take care of their own problems. We have enough problems here.

[joshcryer]

8. We aren't doing anything.

Get a clue please.

[in_cog_ni_to]

14. You keep saying that, josh, but

That's not what everyone else is saying. If what you say is true, then I'm cool with the No Fly Zone, but we do NOT need to be involved in another damn war. Show me something that says we are NOT doing ANYTHING. Then I'll support it.


Officials say US readying for no fly Zone in Libya

(AP) – 1 hour ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional officials say the Obama administration is readying plans to participate in a no-fly zone in Libya with the help of Arab countries in anticipation of a United Nations Security Council resolution.

These officials said Thursday they expected the effort to enforce a no-fly zone and ground Moammar Gadhafi's air force could begin within a few days if the UN takes action by day's end.

They spoke after a briefing for members of the Senate.

One official said Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates were among possible participants, in a showing designed to demonstrate that the effort to aid anti-Gadhafi rebels had support from other countries in the region.

These officials spoke on condition of anonymity, saying they were not authorized to speak publicly on the issue.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hai_LDJ3haCfqrI_RQnRsch_ZJyQ?docId=17288846129044d9a0983d74a9788044

[joshcryer]

16. Giving them fuel or ammo is not the same thing as bombing them ourselves.

I know it's hard to accept.

[AnOhioan]

27. wrong..we will be participating

[joshcryer]

34. Not significantly.

[AnOhioan]

48. Say that when an American jet takes out a Libyan one

or vice versa

[Baclava]

9. Too late

The bombs are on their way.

[jannyk]

10. He's not often wrong, but no-one is perfect - sorry Dennis. nt

[msongs]

11. only congress can declare war. congress has let presidents violate the constitution with impunity nt

[oberliner]

12. Would this be a declaration of war?

By all the UN states involved?

[stevenleser]

18. Congress approved the UN Charter. Congress can approve things like mutual defense treaties that

have the future potential to commit US forces without a requirement for a declaration of war at that point. I think the Constitutionality of this is clear.

[Old and In the Way]

13. It's been demonstrated that the people can't determine their own governance.

The dictator has no interest in that and is using the tools of Libya's army to make sure they can't determine their governance. It's not any one government's call to make a unilateral decision to involve with the internal affairs of another country, but I support a UN multi-lateral action in this case.

[OHdem10]

15. The Planes may be in the air right now. US. France, UK UAE

Jordan, I cannot remember all the countries, had
troops planes on the ready and UN just passed resolution.

Keep checking News. WH has announcement coming up.
Fox News 6:00pm edition

[stevenleser]

17. He's right and he is wrong

First off, the US congress approved the UN Charter which among other things includes the fact that member countries are supposed to honor resolutions of the UN and UN Security Council. I'd love to see this debated by Constitutional lawyers but I think that Congress approves treaties of any kind that call for possible use of force, the President can, as commander in chief, commit US forces in support of that treaty.

But he is right in that I wish we were not involved in this. Why isnt someone else executing the no fly zone? Why does it have to be us? We dont have the money and are involved in two wars already, or at least one war and one that is in the latter stages of being drawn down.

[MilesColtrane]

19. I'm glad Dennis wasn't advising Louis XVI back in 1776.

We'd all be eating bangers and mash and curtsying to Elizabeth right about now.

[Scuba]

20. The voice of reason among screaming idiots. n/t

[Cognitive_Resonance]

21. He's very wrong on this one. The people fighting for freedom are begging for help. nt

[meow mix]

22. hes terribly wrong. just lost my respect for dennis.

[reorg]

23. If Kucinich could be president, the world would be a different place

but there's no chance for that to happen in a nation that thrives on perpetual war.

[Duende azul]

29. +1

[krabigirl]

25. Good for him!

[roamer65]

28. Sorry, Dennis...but you're wrong.

We need to prevent genocide.

Maybe we finally did learn from the inaction of Rwanda.

[Shagbark Hickory]

30. Why can't Sweden or Finland prevent genocide this time. We'll get it next time.

Some of these other countries can step up for a change.

[Shagbark Hickory]

31. It's another war. We don't need this now. Let Finland or The Netherlands do the air strikes, k?

It's their friggin oil.

[stevenleser]

32. Call them up and see what they say. n/t

[oberliner]

33. Britain and France do seem to be taking leading roles

No one in Europe has the military equipment that we do though.

[malaise]

35. So do I

K & R

[oberliner]

38. Really?

What if anything do you think ought to be done by the international community to help those in Libya who are fighting for their freedom from the tyranny of Gadaffi?

I mean, we are talking about a situation where huge numbers of civilians could be killed if no action is taken to prevent it.

And this is something that the UN has voted in favor of - not led by the US.

[malaise]

45. The UN has no balls

Their silence on the drones killing innocent people and their silence re Bahrain and other places is breath-taking. This is about Western powers.

Sorry stay out of Libya.

[oberliner]

47. Arab League calls for Libya no-fly zone-state TV

(Reuters) - The Arab League on Saturday called on the U.N. Security Council to impose a no-fly zone on Libya, Egyptian state television reported, a decision that would give a regional seal of approval that NATO has said is needed for any military action.

The state television also said the Arab League had decided to open channels of communication with a Libyan rebel council based in Benghazi. The League said the council represented the Libyan people, the channel reported.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/12/libya-arabs-council-idUSLDE72B0DW20110312

For what that is worth.

In any case, do you really think the world should do nothing here? Under any circumstance?

[malaise]

52. What is the Arab league saying about Bahrain, Yemen etc? n/t

[readmoreoften]

That's right, DK.

Preach it.

[Joe the Revelator]

36. Of course he does, he's only liberal when it's politically expedient

[Nye Bevan]

39. Dennis is hoping that things go badly wrong.

So *he* will be the guy who was opposed, the hero, the guy who warned us. He remembers how Obama's career prospects were helped by opposing the Iraq war, and he wants some of that for himself.

Of course when a multilateral decision is made, with UN approval and no dissenting UN votes, to come to an aid of people who are being subjected to genocide by a despotic madman, that is very different from a cowboy, gung-ho, rest-of-the-world-be-damned, ill-advised misadventure in pursuit of fictitious WMDs. But Dennis really doesn't care about that.

[killbotfactory]

40. Jesus Christ

It's a UN action, not US. Gaddafi is about poised to start committing genocide with foreign mercs.

This is an action requested by the rebels, who were shot down with anti-aircraft cannons in the streets when they tried to reform the country peacefully.

Screw this guy.

[fascisthunter]

42. and I agree

[Upton]

43. I'm with you 100% on this one Dennis..

[Raksha]

46. I never thought I'd disagree with Dennis Kucinich.

But I guess there's a first time for everything.

[DutchLiberal]

51. Then I say "no" to Mr. Kucinich. With all due respect.

Everybody who has followed me on DU the last 5 years knows how much I have always championed Mr. Kucinich, but he is flat-out WRONG on this! Stand by the Libyan people, Dennis!